Valves



April 1962 M. L. MILLER ETAL, 3,029,839

VALVES Filed Oct. 20, 1958 1 'IIIIIIIIII INVENTOR MARVIN L. M/LLE/g HHEEY J M/LLE/E A TTORNE'Y United Fatent 3,629,339 VALVES Marvin L. Miller, Ernston Road, Morgan Section, Sayreville, N.J., and Harry .l. Milier, 114 Kearny Ave., Perth Amboy, NJ.

Filed Oct. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 768,16 '6 Claims. (Cl. 131-5963.)

This invention relates to valves and particularly to two-way valves.

Two-way valves are widely used in all types of plumbing systems. The present invention in two-way valves is particularly useful in plumbing systems associated with marine water closets. Marine water closets for use below the water line generally operate on a principle according to which the flow offluid into the bowl from the sea is balanced by an equal flow of semi-fluid waste out of the bowl into the sea. The entire cycle of operation of a marine water closet is comparatively complicated and includes a number of steps by which the desired interchange of fiuid'is accomplished. In a typical system, a single piston dual pump using a twoway valve is employed through which fluid-flow, into and out of the ocean, is controlled. The flow out of the vessel into the sea takes place through one pumping system on one side of the piston and the flow out of the sea into the vessel takes place through the other" system. Under some circumstances, such as through addition of excess waste or partial blockage of the exhaust system by semi-fluids, it is necessary to be able to stop the flow of water in the intake channels. This is done to prevent overflowing of the water in the bowl while allowing fluid to pass through the exhaust channels to restore the intake-exhaust balance. However, when this is attempted, it is found that the intake pumping system becomes vapor-locked and the system becomes inoperative.

Accordingly, the principles and objects of the present invention are concerned with the provision of an improved two-way valve having general utility and being particularly useful in plumbing systems associated with marine water closets.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved two-way valve which is substantially incapable of becoming vapor-locked, particularly when one portion of the valve is held inoperative.

Briefly, the valve of the invention includes a first fluid flow channel and a second fluid flow channel, the channels having a common portion. The first channel is controlled by a suitable member, for example a ball, and the second is controlled by a suitable member, for example a disc. Means are provided for blocking the first channel and, at the same time, allowing air-fluid interchange in the second channel. This means comprises a valve stem assembly including a valve stem which passes through the disc and bears against the ball and holds the ball in blocking position in the first channel. In this position of the valve stem, a small diameter bore through the stem completes the flow path in the second channel. In normal operation of the valve, the valve stem is removed from its position of contact with the ball, and the bore therethrough is removed from its position in the second channel and the disc operates in normal fashion.

The invention is described in greater detail by reference to the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view of apparatus embodying the invention with the component parts arranged for normal operation; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with the parts arranged to illustrate a different mode of operation.

Referring to the drawings, a two-wave valve 10 embodying the invention includes a valve housing 12 made of metal, plastic, or the like. The housing'includes a first fluid flow channel M defined by pipes 16 and 18 having a common chamber 20 at their adjacent ends within the housing. The housing also includes a second fiuid'flow channel 22 defined by a third pipe 24 which is separated from the common chamber 2% by a wall 26. The third pipe communicates with the common chamber 29 by means of an aperture 28 in the wall 26. Thus, the second fluid flow channel includes the pipes'24 and 18. Thus, pipe 18 is common to the two fluid flow channels.

Fluid flow control means is provided in the first fluid flow channel 14- including pipes 16 and 18 and comprises, for example, a ball 30 which is positioned in the,

common chamber lit and is freely seated under the force of gravity on the entrance to the pipe 16. The

ball is of such a size that it can block all flowthrough I the pipe 16 when it is held firmly in place in the entrance to the pipe 16.

A second fluid flow control means is provided for ber 29, but which is controlled in the following manner.

A valve stem assembly 36 is provided to control the aperture 34 in the disc 32. The valve stem assembly includes a handle 38 secured to a rod-like stem. or shaft 45) and is threadably mounted in the housing 12. The valve stem assembly is oriented so that the handle is available outside of the housing and the stem extends through the pipe 24 and into the aperture 34 in the disc The stem has a diameter and shape such that it 32. is both slidable in the aperture and'also provides a substantially air-tight fit therewith. The valve stem assem bly is also oriented with the stem aligned with the ball so that the assembly may be screwed into the housing andthe leading end 41 of the stern may contact the ball and hold it securely in position in the entrance to the pipe 16.

According to the invention, the valve stem is constructed to prevent vapor-lock in the second channel 22 when the first channel 14 is blocked. To achieve this operation, the valve stem is impervious to fluid except for the provision, near its leading end, of a small-diameter bore 42. which extends downwardly at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the stem 46. The bore includes an upper opening 44 and a lower opening 46. The bore is positioned so that its lower opening 46 terminates above the end of the stem, with the length of' the stem between the opening 46 and its lower end being approximately equal to the thickness of the disc.

stem is critical only to the extent that it be sufiicient to block the aperture 34 in the disc '32 when the stem is retracted and only the unapertured end portion 48 is in the aperture.-

In operation of the two-way valve It in normal twoway operation, the valve stem assembly 36 is in its retracted position, with the stem 40 up and with the unapertured portion 48 of the end of the stem positioned in and blocking the aperture 34 in the disc 32 (FIG. 1). With the parts thus arranged, both the disc 32 and the ball 30 are free to move and to operate their reaazasss The f length of this unapertured portion 48 of the end of the spective fluid flow channels through the valve 1%. When it is desired to block the first channel 14, the valve stem assembly is turned downwardly so that the leading end of the stem 40 enters the common chamber and is pressed against the ball 30. The ball 3% is thus seated firmly in the entrance to the pipe 16, the flow of fluid in the channel 14 between the pipes 15 and 18 is prevented. In this position of the stem 4 the bore 42 completes a. fluid flow path in the second channel by having its upper opening 44 above the disc 32. in the pipe 24 and its lower opening 46 in the common chamber 29. Thus, the desired air-fluid interchange is accomplished in the second channel 22 through the pipes 18 and 24- and by way of the bore 42 in the stem 46. In a typical flow cycle, on one portion of the cycle, water flows through the second channel and out of the pipe 24- by raising the disc 32 off its seat on the wall 26. On the second portion of the cycle, the disc is seated on the wall and air flows in the opposite direction in the second channel and into the pipe 18 through the bore 2 to replace the water which had previously been removed.

In one construction of the valve 10, the stem 40 was oriented with its longitudinal axis vertical and the pipes 18 and 24 extended radially from the vertical axis. The pipe 16 extended vertically downwardly. In this construction, the pipe 24 was positioned above the other pipes, and the disc 32 and wall 26 were horizontally oriented.

The principles of the invention have been clearly described above. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made in the mechanical arrangement of the various parts of the invention within the scope of the invention. For example, the angles at which the various pipes are oriented may be varied, and, of course, the parts may be made in different sizes as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A two-way valve including a housing, two fluid flow channels in said housing including a common channel portion, a separate movable check valve positioned in each channel for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, one of said check valves being an apertured disc and the other being a ball, a valve stem movable in said housing and slidably positioned in the aperture in said disc and in air-tight engagement therewith, said valve stem being adapted to positively seat said ball check valve, said valve stem including a bore, said bore being positioned so that when the stern bears against and positively seats the ball and blocks one of said channels, the bore allows fluid flow in the other of said channels.

2. The valve defined in claim 1 wherein said bore is oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said stem so that, in one position of said movable stem when the ball check valve is positively seated and fluid can flow in one direction through the disc check valve, the bore permits air flow through the channel controlled by the disc check valve.

3. A two-way valve including a housing, a first fluid flow channel comprising two pipes having a common chamber, a second fluid flow channel comprising a third pipe coupled to a portion of said first channel, a balltype check valve in said first channel and adaptable to block fluid flow in said first channel, an apertured disctype check valve in said second channel, and a shaft movable in said housing and slidable in the aperture in said disc and in air-tight engagement therewith, and a bore in said shaft, said shaft being movable into a position in which it engages and positively seats said ball valve whereby said first channel is blocked, said bore being adapted at the same time to provide a fluid flow path in said second channel, said bore being inoperative when said shaft is remote from and out of contact with said ball check valve.

4. A two-way valve including a housing, a first fluid flow channel comprising two pipes having a common chamber, a second fluid flow channel comprising a third pipe coupled to a portion of said first channel, a balltype check valve in said first channel and adaptable to block fluid flow in said first channel, an apertured disctype check valve in said second channel, and a shaft movable in said housing and slidable in the aperture in said disc and in air-tight engagement therewith, said shaft being slidable into and out of engagement with said ball check valve, and a bore in said shaft, said bore being adapted to occupy two positions, one being entirely in said third pipe and the other being in series with said third pipe and said common chamber, said shaft engaging and positively seating said ball check valve at the same time that the bore is in the latter position.

5. A two-way valve including a housing, a first fluid flow channel comprising two pipes having a common chamber, a second fluid flow channel comprising a third pipe coupled to a portion of said first channel, a balltype check valve in said first channel and adaptable to block fluid flow in said first channel, an apertured disctype check valve in said second channel, and a shaft movable in said housing and slidable in the aperture in said disc and in air-tight engagement therewith, said shaft being slidable into and out of engagement with said ball check valve, and a bore in said shaft, said bore being oriented at an angle to the axis of said shaft and having an upper open end and a lower open end, said bore being adapted to occupy two positions, one entirely in said third pipe and one in series with said third pipe and said common chamber with its upper end in the third pipe and its lower end in the common chamber, said shaft engaging and positively seating said ball check valve when said bore occupies the latter position.

6. A two-way valve including a housing, a first fluid flow channel comprising two pipes having a common chamber, a second fluid flow channel comprising a third pipe coupled through an apertured wall to said common chamber, a ball-type check valve in said first channel and adaptable to block fluid flow in said first channel, an apertured disc-type check valve in said second channel and seated on said apertured wall, a shaft movable in said housing and slidable in the aperture in said disc and in air-tight engagement therewith, said shaft being slidable into and out of engagement with said ball check valve, and a bore in said shaft, said bore being oriented at an angle to the axis of said shaft and having an upper open end and a lower open end, said bore being adapted to occupy two positions, one entirely in said third pipe and one in series with said third pipe and said common chamber with its upper end in the third pipe and its lower end in the common chamber, said shaft engaging and positively seating said ball check valve when said bore is in the latter position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,843 Goblet Aug. 20, 1907 952,048 Resek Mar. 15, 1910 1,403,688 Hunter Jan. 17, 1922 2,452,215 Williams Oct. 26, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 731,173 Great Britain June 1, 1955 

